Wrench.



' B. F. SHAFER.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.- 17. 1915.

1,186,690. Patented June 13, 1916.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY BERNARD r. SHAFER, or BLAND, MISSOURI.

WRENCH.

Application filed September 17, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNARD F. Snarnu, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bland, in the county of Gasconade and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ltrenchos, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to Wrenches and more particularly to a rack catch, slidable inner jaw type.

The primary object of my invention resides in the provision of an improved means for removably maintaining the inner jaw in various adjusted positions on the shank.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described that is simple in construction, er"- ficient in operation and one that can be manufactured and placed on the market at a minimum cost.

Other objects as well as the nature, characteristic features and scope of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my invention, the housing of the inner jaw being shown in section to illustrate the construction and arrangement of the improved means for removably holding the sliding jaw in various adjusted positions on the shank, in this instance the jaw being shown in a set position; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the adjusting means in an open position; and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig.

1, and illustrating to advantage the novel means for removably holding the handle in engagement with the shank.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the diiferent views, I provide a Wrench including a shank 1 having arigid jaw 2 formed on the outer end thereof, the inner face of the shank adjacent the jaw being provided with a plurality of teeth 3 and the opposite end of the shank constitutes a main handle 4.

Slidably mounted on the shank 1 is a housing 5 having a movable or inner jaw 6 formed integral therewith. The outer sur- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1916. Serial No. 51,237.

face of the inner jaw is provided with a recess, in which is pivotally mounted an auX iliary handle 8 preferably through the me drum of a pin 9 which incidentally extends through the walls of the recess 7. The inner face of the auxiliary handle adjacent the pivot point is provided with a plurality of teeth 10 adapted at times for engagement with the teeth 3 of the shank 1 for removably maintaining the housing and the in ner jaw 6 in various adjusted positions on the shank with relation to the main jaw 2. The inner handle end of the auxiliary handle is offset as at 11 so that the teeth 3 will not be broken when the handle end is arranged in intimate contact with the handle 4. The novel means in this instance for removably holding the teeth 10 on the auxiliary handle in engagement with the teeth 3 on the shank consists of a pair of spring arms 12 which extend laterally from the inner sides of the housing 5 and offset there from as illustrated to advantage in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings. The extreme outer ends of these arms 12 are flared outwardly as indicated by the numeral 13 to facilitate the guiding of the auxiliary handle 8 therebetween after the inner jaw has been adjusted to its desired position, the handle being removably retained therein through the medium of oppositely disposed lugs 14 formed on the inner faces of the arm which lugs are incidentally engageable with longitudinally arranged recesses 15 on 0pposite sides of the handle 8. These lugs are engageable with the recesses simultaneously with the engagement of the teeth 3 with the teeth 10, thus automatically and removably locking the inner jaw in position on the shank 1.

The operation of my invention is as fol lows: Assuming that it is desired to adjust the housing 5 on the shank 1 so that the jaws 2 and 6 may be arranged in close relation with the object to be operated upon, the housing 5 is slid until the jaws are arranged in the desired position, whereupon the auxiliary handle 8 is swung about its pivot 9 so that the teeth 10 thereon engage the teeth 3 of the shank preventing longitudinal movement of the housing with respect to the shank. Simultaneous with this movement the handle will be forced between the flared ends 13 of the spring arms 12 and until the lugs 14 are engaged in the recesses 15 which consequently prevents the transverse movement of the auxiliary handle with respect to the shank and removably and automatically locks the parts in position. To obtain a further adjustment of the wrench, the handleS is removed from intimate contact with the main handle 4-, consequently removing the teeth from engagement with each other, whereupon the operation just described may be repeated.

Although I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire to be understood that I am not to be limited to the exact details shown, however, I desire that great stressbe laid upon the arrangement of the improved resilient means for removably and automatically maintaining the housing and the inner jaw in various adjusted positions on the shank. Attention is also particularly directed to the peculiar construction and cooperation ofthe handle having the recesses and the spring arms having the lugs thereon.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it can easily be seen that I have provided a device that is simple in construction, containing but a few simple parts that can'be cheaply manufactured and assembled and when .assembled can be placed upon the market and sold at a minimum cost.

It will'be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the preferred embodiment of my invention and that various'minor changes in detail'ofconstruction, proportion and arrangement of the parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims and without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention. a 7

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A wrench including a shank having a plurality of teeth on the inner face thereof, a rigid jaw on one end thereof, a housing slidably associated with the shank, an inner jaw extending from the housing, an auxiliary handle pivotally associated with the inner jaw and provided with a plurality of teeth for association, at times, with the teeth'on the shank for removably maintaining the housing in various adjusted positions on the shank, and resilient locking arms extending from said housing for association with said auxiliary handle for automatically and removably maintaining the auxiliary handle in engagement with the shank.

2.. A wrench including a shank having a plurality of teeth on the inner face thereof, a rigid jaw on one end thereof, a housing slidably associated with the shank, an inner jaw extending from the housing, an auxiliary handle pivotally associated with the inner jaw and provided with a plurality of teeth for association, at times, with the teeth on'the shank for removably maintaining the housing-in various adjusted positions on the shank, said auxiliary handle provided with recesses on the side faces thereof, resilient arms extending from the housing on opposite sides of the shank, and

lugs formed on the inner faces of the arms for engagement with the recesses for removably holding the auxiliary handle in engagement therewlth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signatur in presence of two witnesses.

BERNARD F. SHAFER.

Witnesses:-

J UDITH V. KAMrER,

H. B. 'SHAFER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by aadressing theFCommissioner-of Patents wasma am,n. e. V I I 

